Improvement in preparing caoutchouc previous to grinding



UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

J. W. HARMON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING CAOUTCHOUC PREVIOUS T0 GRINDING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1.357. dated January15,1846.

To It whom, it mag concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. HARMON, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and improved method of softening thearticle known in commerce as India-Rubber or Oaoutchouc, and preparingit for grinding; and I do declare that the following is a full and exactdescription.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe the construction of the apparatus and its operation.7

I construct a vessel, of metal, A, of one hundred gallons measure, witha steam-tight lidl Into this vessel A, I put one barrel of crudeturpentine or coal-tar and about forty gallons of water. Into anothervessel, B, constructed of either metal or wood, and having a perforatedfalse bottom or grating, D, about two inches from the bottom, and asteam-tight cover, E-the capacity of this'vessel may be two hundredgallonsI place on said grating about one hundred pounds of India-rubberout into small pieces. These two vessels A and B are connected by apipe, 0, leading from the top of A, and inserted under the grating of B.By the application of heat to the vessel it fit for grinding.

A, a decomposition of the crude turpentine or coal-tar is effected.WVhen crude turpentine is used, the vapor or gas is spirits ofturpentine. naphtha is generated. Either of these vapors,

along with the steam whichis generated in the vessel A, passing throughthe tube 0 and under the false bottom of the vessel B, acts on theIndia-rubber, so as to soften it and render From one to three hours ofexposure to the vapors of steam and naphtha or turpentine will besufficient to effect the Y NVhen coal-tar is used, the vapor of

